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Understanding the basic characteristics of
fire and learning the proper safety practices can be the key to surviving a
house fire and possibly saving your home. A fire can engulf a structure in a
matter of minutes.
BE PREPARED:
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Smoke detectors more than double the chance of surviving a fire. At least one
smoke detector should be installed on every level of a structure. Test the
smoke detectors each month and replace the batteries at least once a year.
Purchase smoke detectors labeled by the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) or
Factory Mutual (FM).
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Develop and practice an escape plan. Make sure
all family members know what to do in a fire.
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Draw a floor plan with at least
two ways of escaping every room. Choose a safe meeting place outside the
house.
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Practice alerting other
household members. It is a good idea to keep a bell and a flashlight in each
bedroom for this purpose.
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Practice evacuating the building
blindfolded. In a real fire situation, the amount of smoke generated by a
fire will most likely make it impossible to see.
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Practice staying low to the
ground when escaping.
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Feel all doors before opening
them. If the door is hot, get out another way.
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Learn to stop, drop to the
ground, and roll if clothes catch fire.
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Post emergency numbers near telephones.
However, you should be aware that if a fire threatens your home, you should
not place the call to your emergency services from inside the home. It is
better to get out first and place the call from somewhere else.
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Purchase collapsible ladders at hardware
stores and practice using them.
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Install A-B-C type fire extinguishers in the
home and teach family members how to use them.
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Do not store combustible materials in closed
areas or near a heat source.
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Keep the stove area clean and clear of combustibles such as bags, boxes, and
other appliances. If a fire starts, put a lid over the burning pan or use a
fire extinguisher. Be careful. Moving the pan can cause the fire to spread.
Never pour water on grease fires.
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Check electrical wiring.
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Replace wiring if frayed or
cracked.
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Make sure wiring is not under
rugs, over nails, or in high traffic areas. Do not overload outlets or
extension cords.
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Outlets should have cover plates
and no exposed wiring.
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Only purchase appliances and
electrical devices that have a label indicating that they have been
inspected by a testing laboratory such as Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) or
Factory Mutual (FM).
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Heating devices such as portable heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces demand
safe operation. Use portable heaters in well-ventilated rooms only. Refuel
kerosene heaters outdoors only. Have chimneys and wood stoves cleaned
annually. Buy only approved heaters and follow the manufacturers'
directions.
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Contact your local fire department or American
Red chapter for more information on fire safety.
Protecting Your Property before a Fire
If you aren't sure whether your house is at
risk from wildfires, check with your local fire marshal, building official,
city engineer, or planning and zoning administrator. They can tell you
whether you are in a wildfire hazard area. Also, they usually can tell you
how to protect yourself and your house and property from wildfires.
Fire protection can involve a variety of
changes to your house and property - changes that can vary in complexity
and cost. You may be able to make some types of changes yourself. But
complicated or large-scale changes and those that affect the structure of
your house or its electrical wiring and plumbing should be carried out only
by a professional contractor licensed to work in your state, county, or
city.
Replace Combustible Roofing with
Fire-Resistant Materials
Some roofing materials, including asphalt
shingles and especially wood shakes, are less resistant to fire than others.
When wildfires and brush fires spread to houses, it is often because burning
branches, leaves, and other debris buoyed by the heated air and carried by
the wind fall on roofs. If the roof of your house is covered with wood or
asphalt shingles, you should consider replacing them with fire-resistant
materials.
You can replace your existing roofing
materials with slate, terra cotta or other types of tile, or standing-seam
metal roofing. Replacing roofing materials is difficult and dangerous work.
A roofing contractor can advise you on the relative advantages and
disadvantages of various fire-resistant roofing materials.
Keep these points in mind if you plan to have
your existing roofing materials replaced:
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Tile, metal, and slate are more expensive
roofing materials, but if you need to replace your roofing anyway, it may be
worthwhile to pay a little more for the added protection these materials
provide.
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Slate and tile can be much
heavier than asphalt shingles or wood shingles. If you are considering
switching to one of these heavier coverings, your roofing contractor should
determine whether the framing of your roof is strong enough to support them.
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If you live in an area where snow loads are a
problem, consider switching to a modern standing-seam metal roof, which will
usually shed snow efficiently,
Dealing with Vegetation and Combustible
Materials
If you aren't sure whether your house is at
risk from wildfires, check with your local fire marshal, building official,
city engineer, or planning and zoning administrator. They can tell you
whether you are in a wildfire hazard area. Also, they usually can tell you
how to protect yourself and your house and property from wildfires.
Wildfire protection can involve a variety of
changes to your house and property - changes that can vary in complexity
and cost. You may be able to make some types of changes yourself. But
complicated or large-scale changes and those that affect the structure of
your house or its electrical wiring and plumbing should be carried out only
by a professional contractor licensed to work in your state, county, or
city.
Remove Vegetation and Combustible Materials
If the area immediately surrounding your house
contains trees, shrubs, and other vegetation; yard debris; or other
materials that burn easily, your house will be at an increased risk of
damage during wildfires and forest fires. These combustible materials
provide a path by which fire from nearby areas can reach your house.
You should clear the area around your house.
Shrubs, brush, woodpiles, and combustible debris should be removed within a
radius of 30 feet. The distance between your house and any nearby tree
should always be greater than the height of the mature tree or at least 10
feet. Similarly, any outbuildings, such as storage sheds, should be at least
as far away as their height.
Rather than plant
shrubs near your house, consider landscaping alternatives such as creating a
rock garden.
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